The University of Southern Maine (USM) Foundation has announced Pierce Atwood LLP as a Founding Sponsor of the McGoldrick Center for Career & Student Success, located on the University’s Portland campus. Pierce Atwood is a leading, full-service law firm headquartered in Portland, with offices throughout New England and in Washington, D.C.
The firm is sponsoring a space in the Career and Employment Hub, located on the second floor of the McGoldrick Center, where students can connect with prospective employers, such as Pierce Atwood, or meet with their career counselors. Career Hub programs offer students invaluable opportunities to gain experience in the field, explore career directions, develop global citizenship skills, and give back to the community.
Pierce Atwood Managing Partner David E. Barry stated, “We are pleased to be a founding sponsor of USM’s Career and Employment Hub. We believe that investing in education is investing in tomorrow’s leaders and innovators. When we provide opportunities for students to build connections and gain real-world experience, we empower them to unlock their potential to create a bright and successful future for themselves and the communities in which they will live and work.”
Ainsley Wallace, President and CEO of the USM Foundation, said, “Pierce Atwood has long been a generous and stalwart supporter of the University of Southern Maine, and we are thrilled that they chose to become Founding Sponsors of the McGoldrick Center. We look forward to partnering with them to support the career aspirations of USM students, including the many who plan to pursue Law School after graduation.”
The McGoldrick Center Founding Sponsors program offers employer partners like Pierce Atwood recognition and promotional opportunities in a central location at the heart of USM’s newly transformed Portland campus. The law firm will be recognized with a plaque prominently displayed at the Career Hub, which is dedicated to bringing students together with the employer community.
The McGoldrick Center features an expansive dining area, Husky Brew Pub, University Store, Double L Fireside Lounge, and other public spaces that are available for community use. The Center regularly draws hundreds of students, faculty, staff, and community members through its doors.
The third floor of the McGoldrick Center focuses on cultivating student leadership opportunities and connections, with additional spaces set aside for USM’s Diversity Center, student organizations, Promise Scholars, and the Student Government Business Office.
The three-story building overlooks the new campus quad, named the “Bean Green,” and sits adjacent to Portland Commons, the first residence hall on USM’s Portland campus. The Center is among the most environmentally sustainable buildings on USM’s Portland campus. On track to achieve LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) Gold certification, the Center takes advantage of passive solar heating through the large glass openings facing south in the wintertime. It has a 33.3 kW photovoltaic solar array on its roof and incorporates smart-energy strategies and sustainable building materials throughout.
The $26.6 million, 41,000 square-foot building was funded through a combination of private philanthropy, corporate sponsorships, and $19 million in public funding from the voter-approved 2018 University of Maine System Workforce Development Bond.
About Pierce Atwood LLP
Pierce Atwood LLP, a highly regarded full-service law firm based in New England, has 150 attorneys who serve regional, national, and international clients from offices in Portland and Augusta, Maine; Portsmouth and Concord, New Hampshire; Boston, Massachusetts; Providence, Rhode Island; and Washington, DC. Pierce Atwood provides legal and business counsel and advocacy services to its clients, which range from regional and local enterprises, utilities, financiers, middle-market companies, entrepreneurs, and individuals to Fortune 500 companies, multinational corporations, and state and foreign governments.